West Brom set sights on Anelka

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke wants French striker Nicolas Anelka to lead the line at The Hawthorns next season.

With West Brom in danger of losing their three best strikers from the last English Premier League season, Clarke has identified Anelka as his preferred replacement for the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie.

Lukaku has returned to Chelsea after his season-long loan at The Hawthorns, while Odemwingie still wants to leave after his attempted transfer to Queens Park Rangers in January fell through in farcical circumstances.

Long's contract expires in a year, meaning West Brom may be keen to sell the Irishman if he does not sign a new deal, rather than lose him for free.

Last season Lukaku top-scored for West Brom in the Premier League with 17 goals, while Long (eight) and Odemwingie (five) were the next best for Clarke's team.

That has left Clarke looking for new options and The Sun are reporting he is keen to sign Anelka, who is without a club after a sixth-month deal with Juventus expired, following a year in China with Shanghai Shenhua.

Clarke is apparently keen on ex-Wigan striker Franco Di Santo, who is also a free agent, while Udinese's Czech forward Matej Vydra, who spent last season on loan at Watford, has also attracted interest from West Brom.